Editor – Karin Ingram, HawickB&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, ThankertonThe main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time-consuming at this stage to retype). EditorialNoneKarin Ingram

Dumfries & district Music Festivalby Roger WindsorThat the competition went……….

Perth All Scotland Accordion & Fiddle Championships30th October 2010by Bill CoburnThe Perth Championship Competitions will be run this year under the banner of the Perth and District Accordion and Fiddle Club, and will be held in The Salutation Hotel’s two large function rooms, plus nearby additional halls.A mutual agreement was made by Bill Wilkie and the Committee of the Club, to hand over the running of this prestigious event, to ensure its long term future.Bill first created this Festival back in 1950, and has presented it successfully for the last 60 years, but now feels that it needs a good working Committee, made up of experience and youth, to cater for the new generation of today’s musicians.A Festival Committee is being formed which will include the principal members of the Perth A&F Club plus proposed members, Michael Philip, Simon Howie, James Lindsay, Jim Cleland, Peter Bruce and Bill Coburn.With this wealth of experience available, the organisation and running of this most important Festival is guaranteed for many years to come. The competing format will continue as before, but with some alterations to streamline various sections.The new Committee will strive to attract new competitors to add to our existing regular entrants, particularly in the Scottish sections, where the coveted trophies are up for grabs each year, with the winners announced as the official Scottish Champions.Details of the Friday night ceilidh, the competitions, and After Festival Dance, all held in The Salutation Hotel, will be announced in due course.Due to work commitments, Bill Wilkie will not be presenting a celebrity concert this year, but is planning future concerts, which will be staged as and when appropriate. Again these will be announced in advance.For any further information contact Bill Coburn

James Paterson (1943 – 2010) Obituaryby Charlie ToddIt was with great sadness that musicians and Accordion and Fiddle Clubs throughout the Borders and beyond learned of the sudden and untimely death of James Paterson on 2nd February 2010. James had been carrying on a quiet and dignified battle with cancer since early in 2007 but the suddenness of his passing stunned everyone. His popularity throughout our musical community was mirrored by the huge turnout of mourners, estimated at between 800 and 1,000 at Innerleithan Churchyard.James and his companion Betty MacDonald regularly attended a large number of clubs throughout the Borders, Lanarkshire and the Lothians as well as Festivals at Ayr, Shetland and Gretna amongst others. James frequently carried his equipment in the car with him and was it wasn’t the first time he was able to assist a Club whose amp or speakers had broken down on the night.James started his musical career in 1955 when he bought his first accordion, a 120 bass Frontalini and in that same year he joined the Innerleithan Pipe Band to learn the snare drum. On accordion he did not receive any formal tuition, but was assisted by local players Hugh Hanratty and Willie Inglis to play tunes and read some simple music. In time he moved on to a Marinucci accordion and subsequently, around 1962, a new Ranco Supervox – which he still had, in immaculate condition.About the same time James moved from the Innerleithan Pipe Band to the Peebles RBL Pipe Band where, in time, he became leading drummer. He stayed with them till he retired from that scene in the mid 1980s. The accordion had, in the meantime, taken a back seat hardly being taken out of its case for the best part of twenty years. However, in 1989 the start of the Yarrow Accordion and Fiddle Club re-kindled his interest. He attended the inaugural meeting as a friend of the late John Laidlaw and returned the following month with the dusted and polished Ranco.A year later James invested in a Hohner Morino IVN and progressed to playing at concerts and functions. Made redundant from his insurance job in 1994 he decided not to look for another job but to take life a bit easier, concentrate on engagements and use his additional leisure time to visit as many Accordion and Fiddle Clubs and accordion related events as possible. To date he had attended seventy Clubs throughout Scotland and the North of England and was a regular at the monthly meetings of around a dozen. Seven of the Clubs he had attended are now closed and he still had fifteen earmarked for a first time visit and he additionally had appeared at seventeen over the years as Guest Artiste with a band or trio.James was voted “Club Supporter of the Year” by NAAFC votes in 2007, just after he had been diagnosed with cancer, and said he was delighted to win this award and thanked his many friends and supporters for their votes. Advances in medical science gave James three good years but for the last 12 months things had been becoming increasing difficult. Yet he remained upbeat, always planning for the future. Sadly it was not to be. Always pleasant, cheerful and helpful he will be sadly missed around the Clubs. Our sympathies are extended to mum Lizzie, daughter Lynsey and family and to Betty.